Improving Fruit Quality of Apricot by Means of Preharvest Benzyladenine and Benzyladenine Plus Gibberellin Applications

Abstract

Applications that could improve apricot (Prunus armeniaca) fruit size and quality would enhance their marketability. In this study, the effects of preharvest benzyladenine (BA) and BA plus gibberellin (GA) applications on fruit quality of ‘Alyanak’ apricot were investigated. BA (50, 100, and 150 ppm) and BA + GA4+7 (12.5, 25, and 50 ppm) were applied at the beginning of pit hardening stage. When fruit reached their maturity, samples were harvested and evaluated in terms of: weight, size, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), acidity, and pH. Fruit treated with BA were significantly heavier and larger than fruit not treated, and there were significant differences in fruit size within the BA-treated fruit. The heaviest and the largest fruit were obtained from 100 to 150 ppm BA concentrations. BA + GA4+7 treatments did not affect fruit size. Application of 100 ppm BA and 25 ppm BA + GA4+7 increased fruit firmness at harvest. SSC, pH, and acidity were unaffected by the applications. The results obtained in this study showed a practical benefit of a single application of BA at the end of pit hardening for improving apricot quality. Fruit treated with the optimum dose of BA (100 ppm) were larger and firmer than untreated fruit.